The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-04-02
ChicagO's Sewage.


81 delegates, representing the towns of Joliet,
Morris. Morris, Marseilles, Ottawa, La Sale,
Peru and Peoria was held in the supervisors
room in the court house, 10 take into eons.d.
Grafton the proposed scheme OF Chicago to
increase the quantity Of sewage sent down
the Illinois Valley, and the bills now before
the legislature, authorizing the consumma-
ton OF the plan. l., b. Ray, ESQ, of Morris,
was made chairman and X, NJ. Wood OF Joliet,
A. j. O'Connor OF La Sale, and II. q. Cotton
Of Ottawa acted as secretaries. After the
chairman had stated the object Of the meeting,
0 committee ON resolutions was apdointed,
consisting OF 5. Nicholson of Ottawa,
Thos. McEleraln CT Peoria, A. Means of Peru,
Bird Bedford Of Marscilos, Judge Olln Of
Joliet, +, Sanford OF Morris aud Il, NJ, Muir
ply of La Sale,
While they were out making up their report
an informal discussion Of the matter was had.
VIM. Thomas, OF Ottawa, was the first speak
err. He said that since the first meeting OF
the Business Mems Association, in this city,
which adopted a resolution fayoring the
scheme, he had had reason 10 change his
mind. That resolution was adopted under the
stimulus of iiowery and very attractive ad'
dress by Mr., Cooley, who pictured so freely
the beauties of a great stream OF pure water
IN the Illinois; but as he (Mr. Thomas) had
since read the bills which Mr.. Cooley intimat-
ed authorlz ID the production of such II chan
mel, he had found they provided for nothing
Of the kind. They were, each OF them, frauds
OF the most perfect type, and ought not to be
allowed to become laws. He believed, how
ever, much as he regretted it, that the city of
Chicago lad a vested right in the canal as an
outlet 10 her sewers; and the question now is
not "Shall We take Chicago's sewage at ALL"
II that were the question, it would be easily
disposed Of, for il is impossible to think the
people of the Illinois Valley would now con.
sent to such proposition. But the action of
the legislature in the past has given that city
the right TO so use the canal, and we have the
sewage, and probably will have it; so the
question is, "How shall We prevent lis becOm.
ing greater nuisance than its now s?' As
to these two, bills there is fraud in every line
and between the lines. II is no; proposed to
enlarge it t. carry that much more sewage |
without single drop of water for dilutiOn.
The whole business should be stopped now;
and demand channel of the kind promised
by Chicago papers and the engineers. This
must be the work or none; and it should be
demanded that it be commenced within one
year and completed within five years.
Mr.. Lambert, Of Joliet, didn't agree. He
held that. Chicago had forfeited her vested
rights by not fulfilling her part of the contract
in the matter of the deep cut authorized in
1855. As for the deep channel alluded to, he
had it from Mayor Harrison that nothing of
he kind was now intended.
OConor, of La Sale, said he didn't know
much o. the business further than this, that j
La Sale and Peru didn't propose 10 be either =
froWned out or stunk out; and he thought
|he whole business Ought TO be stopped now !
fntil information had been obtained.
Others spoke to the same effect, and resolu- -
ons were adopted calling for Il halt in the L
proceedings at Springfield, and the appoint
fent OF committee consisting of f, Sanford =
Morris, Judge Olin of Joliet, F. J. Ward
Marselles, Henry Mary of Ottawa, A j.
'Conor of La Sale, A. Means of Peru, and
r. I. NJ. McElvain of PEORIA to prepare n
ch amendments to the bills now before the J,
gislature as shall secure purity of water and u
commercial waterway, aud in other respects NJ
otect the rights Of the people in the prem
Fs; and thai said committee lay before the
eislature, or the appropriate committees
ereof, the action of this convention, and
uest a postponement of all legislation: !,
if such postponement is refused, then to
ure the passage of the amendments so o,
pared by said committee
committees were also appointed to 90 to
ingfeld to assist this committee, who u,
uld at Springfield select an executive com NJ
tee with power to call further conventions ,
ecessary,